Photo : Tiksa Negeri | Reuters
NIAS Area Studies
AFRICA MONITOR
Photo : Tiksa Negeri | Reuters
IN BRIEF
By Apoorva Sudhakar and Anu Maria Joseph
Ethiopia: Amhara forces withdraw from Tigray; Tigrayan forces begin disarmament
On 12 January, the Ethiopian National Defence Force said the Amhara regional special force had withdrawn from Tigray, as per the ceasefire signed in November 2022. Further, as per the ceasefire, the Tigrayan forces also began handing over their weapons on 11 January. The developments come after Eritrean forces reportedly started withdrawing from Tigray in December 2022. (“Amhara forces withdraw from northern Ethiopia’s Tigray region,” Al Jazeera, 13 January 2023)
Democratic Republic of the Congo: M23 asks EAC to ensure all armed groups surrender arms
On 12 January, the M23 rebels, following a meeting with mediator Uhuru Kenyatta, asked the East African Community (EAC) to guarantee that all armed groups would give up their arms. Following the meeting, the EAC released a statement: “The leaders of the M23 urged (former) president Kenyatta to assist in assuring there's safety in the DRC and that citizens' rights are upheld and recognised.” Apart from laying down arms, the M23 also called on the EAC to “cease any fighting or attack on the M23, and seek resolution of the conflict through peaceful means.” (Lenin Ndebele, “M23 rebels ask regional body to guarantee that all armed groups in eastern DRC will lay down arms,” News24, 13 January 2023)
Benin: Pro-government parties secure majority
On 12 January, the constitutional court said parties supporting the current government under President Patrice Talon had secured a majority in the parliament by winning 81 of the 109 seats, with a 37.79 per cent voter turnout. This comes after the opposition was allowed to run for the elections four years after they were disallowed in 2016. The constitutional court said the opposition secured 28 seats. Prior to the results, the opposition party leader claimed the elections were rigged with “flagrant” ballot box stuffing, rigging and vote buying by the two pro-government parties.: (“Benin’s ruling coalition won election, constitutional court says,” France24, 13 January2023)
Ethiopia: France and Germany call for war crime justice
On 13 January, French and German foreign ministers during their meeting with Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed in Addis Ababa said that there can be no reconciliation in Ethiopia without justice.They discussed the progress of the peace agreement which was signed early November and called for the establishment of a transitional justice mechanism for the atrocities committed during the conflict. Meanwhile, Ethiopian Foreign Minister Demeke Mekonnen said that the government will ensure the justice to be served. On the same day, Ethiopian Defence Force said that Amhara Allied Forces have started withdrawing its troops from major towns in Tigray. (“France, Germany push for Ethiopia war crimes justice,” “Ethiopia says regional forces withdrawn from Tigray,” BBC, 13 January 2023)